Marking system

ABSTRACT

A system for marking both visually interpretable information and non-visually interpretable, but machine readable information on record bearing members, typically control tickets used for merchandise identification, classification and inventory control. The system employs a marking machine that is capable of being controlled from a remote location in order to specify what is to be marked upon the tickets, as well as such auxiliary information as the number of tickets and the number of parts per ticket. Initially, the specified information is advantageously converted into electrical code signals that act upon the machine and its marking instrumentalities. As the tickets are fed through the machine, visually interpretable information is imprinted upon each ticket at one marking station and non-visually interpretable, but machine readable information is applied by magnetic recording at another marking station. The recorded information illustratively appears on one side of each ticket, without causing ticket disfiguration; a counterpart of at least a portion of that information is imprinted on the other side of the ticket. The printing instrumentalities, desirably print wheels, are collectively settable from the remote location. For that purpose the print wheels are driven, upon command, in one direction of rotation to a re-set position. They are subsequently driven in the opposite direction of rotation to individual positions which are specified from the remote location. In the case of magnetic recording, electrical interference between regular machine operations and the entry of recorded information on the tickets is reduced by the use of a timing mechanism. In addition, a linkage mechanism is used for the precise positioning of tickets and for controllably moving a recording unit into position. The correctness of the recorded information is verified at the remote location, and, upon a failure of verification, a reject marking unit is operated at the machine. Illustratively, the recording takes place using serial signals applied in circular tracks to a coating of magnetic material on each ticket. Alternatively, the recording signals may be applied in parallel and linearly positioned on the coating of each ticket, despite non-linear feed, by coordinating the timing of the recording with the movement of the tickets. Also disclosed is a unit for applying a color mark to the tickets, as prescribed at the remote location. The completed tickets are received by a collector which is also controllable from the remote location. Additionally disclosed are various electronic logic networks that are used in the system to facilitate remote control of the machine. One of the networks is a divider which is set with binary code signals from the remote location to specify the number of parts per ticket. Where the number of parts is four or less, the divider takes the form of a gated two-stage register that receives a recurring pulse signal from the machine and produces an output in accordance with the number of parts desired. Another of the networks is a comparator that employs NAND logic for controlling the mechanical position of the color mark unit in accordance with code signals sent from the remote location.

tates Arciprete et a1.

atet I [111 anew? [451 Apr. 16, 1974 1 MARKING SYSTEM [75] Inventors:Genio R. Arciprete, Lexington;

Adrian 1F. Brokaw, Woburn; Richard L. Dumais, Ashland; Richard F.Stucchi, Hudson, all of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company,

Farmingham, Mass.

[22] Filed: Feb. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 225,346

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 786,813, Dec. 9,1968, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 681,765, Nov. 9, 1967,

6/1973 Potter lOl/66 Primary Examiner-Vincehtl". Canney Attorney, Agent,or FirmDonald Brown [57] ABSTRACT A system for marking both visuallyinterpretable information and non-visually interpretable, but machinereadable information on record bearing members, typically controltickets used for merchandise identification, classification andinventory control.

As the tickets are fed through the machine, visually interpretableinformation is imprinted upon each ticket at one marking station andnon-visually interpretable, but machine readable information is appliedby magnetic recording at another marking station. The recordedinformation illustratively appears on one side of each ticket, withoutcausing ticket disfiguration; a counterpart of at least a portion ofthat information is imprinted on the other side of the ticket.

The printing instrumentalities, desirably print wheels,

are collectively settable from the remote location. For that purpose theprint wheels are driven, upon command, in one direction of rotation to are-set position. They are subsequently driven in the opposite directionof rotation to individual positions which are specified from the remotelocation.

In the case of magnetic recording, electrical interference betweenregular machine operations and the entry of recorded information on thetickets is reduced bythe use of a timing mechanism. In addition, alinkage mechanism is used for the precise positioning of tickets and forcontrollably moving a recording unit into position. The correctness ofthe recorded information is verified at the remote location, and, upon afailure of verification, a reject marking unit is operated at themachine.

illustratively, the recording takes place using serial signals appliedin circular tracks to a coating of magnetic material on each ticket.Alternatively, the recording signals may be applied in parallel andlinearly positioned on the coating of each ticket, despite non-linearfeed, by coordinating the timing of the recording with the movement ofthe tickets.

Also disclosed is a unit for applying a color mark to the tickets, asprescribed at the remote. location. The completed tickets are receivedby a collector which is also controllable from the remote location.

Additionally disclosed are various electronic logic networks that areused in the system to facilitate remote control of the machine. One ofthe networks is a divider which is set with binary code signals from theremote location to specify the number of parts per ticket. Where thenumber of parts is four or less, the divider takes the form of a gatedtwo-stage register that receives a recurring pulse signal from themachine and produces an output in accordance with the number of partsdesired. Another of the networks is a comparator that employs NAND logicfor controlling the mechanical position of the color mark unit inaccordance with code signals sent from the remote location.

4 Claims, 36 Drawing Figures PATENTEB APR 16 I974 sum 07 or 25PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 am 10 {1F 25 ACHINE CYCLE CONTROL PULSE ...w fim MUIUPSM PATENTEDAPR 16 m 3804.007

sum '11 0F 25 wmmm 10 I974 31004.00?

SHEET 120? 25 RISE TRAVEL S UR R ASE PINS I PATENTEDAPR 16 I974 SHEET 1325' PATENTEMPMBW sum mo? 25 PATENTEUAPR 15 m4 sum 17 or 25 A 1 JE Z3EMFZ DOU OP jo Ei w EOE

1. A system for marking prescribed information upon control ticketscomprising a machine having stations for marking a ticket with bothvisually interpretable control information and nonvisually interpretablemachine readable control information, said machine having a severingmeans for dividing multipart ticket stock into tickets having apredetermined number of parts, feed means for feeding the stock to thesevering means and then advancing the ticket to the stations, andcontrol means for controlling the severing means to cause the severingmeans to operate to sever the ticket stock into a ticket having a presetnumber of parts, in which said control means includes a divider networkwhich is preset to provide a control signal to the severing means, andtiming means for providing timing signals to the divider network tocause it to selectively actuate the severing means depending upon thenumber of parts selected.
 2. A system according to claim 1 in which 1,2, 3 or 4 part tickets are severed from the stock.
 3. A system accordingto claim 1 including means for controlling the number of tickets to besevered and wherein means is provided to verify the information markedon the ticket so as to sever one or more additional tickets if theinformation on one or more of the tickets is not verified as beingcorrect.
 4. A system according to claim 3 in which the tickets include amagnetic recording media for recording machine readable data and inwhich the machine includes a rotatable recording head.